Typhoon Lionrock hits Japan

Flooding and mudslides that reached a care facility in the town of Iwaizumi in northern Japan caused the deaths of nine of the facility's elderly residents, Japanese officials announced on Wednesday.

Flooding has been widespread in the area, with more people feared dead, after torrential rain brought by Typhoon Lionrock caused mudslides and rivers to break through their banks.

The storm struck on Tuesday evening and forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes. Many were left without electricity in a region where some people are still recovering from the effects of the 2011 tsunami.

Typhoon Lionrock, which has dumped more rain on certain areas in just a few days than is normally seen in the entire month of August, is unusual in the path it has taken.

It came directly from the Pacific Ocean to northern Japan, while most storms begin in southern Japan before working their way north. The Japan Meteorological Agency says it was the first time a typhoon has made landfall in northern Japan since records started being kept in 1951.

This is the third typhoon to hit Japan in the past two weeks. Tokyo felt the brunt of Typhoon Mindulle, with over 400 flights canceled due to the storm.

mz/jm (AP, dpa, AFP)